Seeking opinions on amending the Resolution on conducting votes of confidence.

(Baonghean.vn) -On the morning of May 9th, in Vinh City, the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province held a conference to gather feedback on the draft Resolution on conducting confidence votes and no-confidence votes for officials elected or approved by the National Assembly and People's Councils (amended). Comrade Pham Van Tan, Provincial Party Committee member and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province, chaired the conference. Also present were Comrade Nguyen Huu Lam, Standing Committee member, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, and Head of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, along with representatives from various departments and agencies.

The scene at the meeting.

According to Resolution No. 35/2012/QH13 of the National Assembly on confidence votes, at its 5th session, the National Assembly conducted confidence votes for 47 positions elected or approved by the National Assembly; similarly, the People's Councils of 63 provinces and cities conducted confidence votes for 907 people, the People's Councils at the district level conducted confidence votes for 6,664 people; and the People's Councils at the commune level conducted confidence votes for 58,488 people. With three levels of confidence – high confidence, confidence, and low confidence – the confidence vote process generally achieved its objectives and requirements, representing an important step forward in the supervisory activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Lam, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department and Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Affairs Committee, delivered a speech.

However, this is the first time a confidence vote has been held, lacking precedent and experience, thus encountering limitations and obstacles that do not fully encompass practical situations. Based on an assessment of these obstacles, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly discussed and agreed to report to the National Assembly to temporarily suspend the confidence vote and proceed with amending and supplementing Resolution No. 35 regulating this matter. According to the draft Resolution on the revised confidence vote, prepared by the drafting committee and reviewed by the National Assembly, there are 19 articles, including four parts: regulations on the scope and subjects of the vote; the time and timing of the confidence vote; the confidence rating in the confidence vote; and other issues.

At the conference, based on the options presented in the draft Resolution, delegates commented on whether or not to expand the scope of confidence votes to include heads of specialized agencies under the People's Committees at the provincial and district levels, while narrowing the scope and excluding those working in elected bodies. Regarding the timing of the vote, some delegates agreed with the option of conducting confidence votes annually or once per term, but others suggested conducting them twice per term, at the beginning and end of the third and fourth years of the term; and that the vote should only have two levels, "confident" and "not confident," instead of the current three levels.

In addition, while agreeing with the draft's proposal, delegates suggested adding the Chief Justice of the People's Court, the Chief Prosecutor of the People's Procuracy, and heads of departments and agencies who are members of the People's Committee to the list of subjects for confidence votes; clearly and specifically defining each subject for confidence votes; and avoiding the general provision for "other positions" as guidance in this area is still very lacking. The legal consequences for cases where more than half to two-thirds of the delegates vote "low confidence" should be resignation, or the Standing Committee of the People's Council should request the Chairman of the People's Committee at the same level to consider and decide, and report to the People's Council at the nearest meeting to initiate dismissal procedures; confidence votes should be conducted twice per term; and the evaluation report of the person subject to the confidence vote must follow a unified template, ensuring honesty, objectivity, and legal responsibility for their report…

A representative from the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee delivered a speech.

At the conference, there were also suggestions that the voting and confidence vote procedures of the provincial and district People's Councils should be regulated by the provincial and district People's Councils; the National Assembly should provide guidance; and in the provincial People's Council, the broader the scope of those subject to the confidence vote, the better…

Comrade Pham Van Tan concluded by accepting the feedback and suggestions.

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Pham Van Tan stated that despite the short preparation time and the need for feedback, the delegates, with their serious and responsible work ethic, contributed high-quality and focused suggestions to the draft Resolution. These suggestions will be received, compiled, and submitted to the National Assembly at the upcoming session by the Provincial National Assembly Delegation.

Nguyen Hai